Chapter Three: Examination

The Colonel and the Major headed back to the crime scene to investigate. Or rather the Colonel would have a look for himself and see what judgements he could come up with. The crowds were still gathered but they seemed to be more subdued than when the Major left in search of his commander. “These people seem to be okay,” Grengard said, sounding a little disappointed. “They were much worse a short while ago,” Callahan replied a little embarrassed, and if truth was told, a little angry. “It matters not, Major,” Grengard said waving his hand at his 2IC. “In fact, this will help our cause most assuredly. Is this the house?” He pointed to the house that was being guarded by two soldiers standing on either side of the entrance. Callahan nodded. “Yes sir.” Grengard didn’t wait to be shown inside. He boldly made his way past the soldiers. Callahan followed him, nodding to the soldiers.Callahan walked in to see the Colonel walking slowly around the lounge taking in the furniture, the scorch marks, scuffs on the wooden floor, the fireplace. It was like this was a museum and he was a patron, perusing the exhibits, being inspired by new and wonderful things. But this wasn’t a museum. This was a crime scene, and one of the worse crime scenes that the Major had ever seen in his long and illustrious career. There was a good reason as to why the Colonel was here, and it wasn’t just to make an appearance in the street. He was here because of the severity of the crime. The basics of the case had already been uncovered. The Colonel stopped over by the scorch marks. “This would be the main piece of evidence for your assumption of magic involvement?” “Yes sir,” Grengard nodded. “I would have to say that you might be right, Callahan,” he said under his breath in a voice barely heard over the sound of silence. He ran a finger over the black marks on the wooden wall. “It’s still a little warm,” he uttered a brief, sharp laugh. “This means that the murder wasn’t done long ago.” “Indeed, sir.” Callahan was waiting for the Colonel to catch up to them. Until that time, he wouldn’t interrupt his Commander, unless he asked a question that only they could discover. In the Major’s experience, the Colonel was more than capable of intelligent investigation. He was one of the smartest soldiers he had ever met. Callahan was hoping that the Colonel would catch something that they had missed. After a few more moments of looking and feeling the scorch marks he turned back towards the Major and the Sergeant. His eyes were full of wonder and a little excitement. Major Callahan couldn’t remember the last time he saw such focus and life in the Colonel. It was a pleasure to see. “You would appear to be right in your belief of this case, Major.” Callahan nodded. He knew this was the case. “The real question would seem to be why? Who were the victims?” “Jon and Mauyn O’Denison,” replied the Sergeant, pulling out his small black notebook. They were in their mid-forties, he was a blacksmith and she was his wife.” Grengard nodding at this information as it flowed towards him. “Good, good, what else? Did they have enemies? Ties to gangs? Ties to Stencrass?” Alstrom shook his head.” From what we can tell, the answer is no on all accounts, but we’ll need to finish our investigations in those matters.” “The sooner the better.” Grengard cast a low gaze at the Sergeant that was all authority. “Cases like these test all of us and show who the real officers amongst us are. Am I understood, Sergeant?” The Sergeant nodded. “Yes sir. I’ll get it done.” He gave a stiff bow and left the room. Callahan watched him leave. “You know that wasn’t necessary, sir,” he said as he turned back to the Colonel. “This won’t be solved in the details. This was a brutal murder by someone with an axe to grind.” “Indeed, Major. I agree,” nodded the Colonel. “This was a murder committed by a magician who has chosen this particular time to use their powers to exact whatever they hoped to gain from this act.” “A blacksmith has nothing that a man of power would want.” “You're making judgements, Major, and that will not do. Not at all,” Grengard condemned with a finger pointed at the Major. “We need to see where the evidence takes us, no matter where that leads.” Callahan nodded. The Colonel was right, of course. He fell into the trap of thinking and coming to his own conclusions rather than sticking to what he knew about this case. Maybe the blacksmith had brought this upon himself. He just didn’t know did he? “A magician wouldn’t just kill someone without a good reason," Grengard said, then thought twice about that. “Or, I hope he wouldn’t, because that would be something to bear upon all of our consciences wouldn’t it?” Callahan nodded and agreed. He didn’t like to think that a man with lightning in the tips of his fingers would just walk up to a house, kick in a door and let his powers tear through the innocent. He stopped in mid thought. Callahan had thought about a man with lightning for powers, why had he thought that particular image? Why not fire? Exactly why had he thought of lightning? “Well, I think the next step is quite obvious, my dear fellow.” Callahan snapped out of his thoughts. “The next step?” “Yes, the next step in this case of yours. You need to talk to the neighbours, find out more about the O’Denisons.” “Of course,” Callahan nodded. “I’ll keep you fully informed, sir.” “Yes, yes, we shall get to the bottom of this most perplexing mystery. Hopefully before the Lord Mayor catches too much wind of it.” The Colonel gave the Major a look of deep anxiety. It was a look well deserved.